Dr. Kakali Bhattacharya

An Outstanding Islander

Bringing Classes into the 21st Century

In a rural South Texas town, a University student can sit at home and interact with someone in another country that they would otherwise never meet through “Second Life,” a virtual 3-D, web-based immersive learning environment.

By the time students finish courses taught by Dr. Kakali Bhattacharya, an associate professor in the College of Education, they become familiar with the latest in technology. She says “Second Life,” as a global social connector, encourages participation from people from around the world, and provides students with opportunities to better understand concepts pertaining to ethnographic analysis and research methods.

“These programs allow students to expand their world view outside of Corpus Christi,” said Bhattacharya, a specialist in qualitative research methodology. “It opens them up to a multitude of different cultures and research methodologies without having to travel far. We can share, understand, and learn from each other.”

Bhattacharya adds that another advantage of “Second Life” is the flexibility it gives to long distance commuters and students juggling families. Its users can log into the accessible learning environment from any location, while meeting the daily demands of home and work.

Bhattacharya is known in her area for utilizing 21st century instructional methods ranging from performance to innovative computer software to educating and motivating her students. Her belief is that setting high expectations in the classroom is vital to helping build, inspire, and challenge our educational leaders of tomorrow.

“Once I trigger their passion for research, they can run on their own,” said Bhattacharya. “They rise and do amazing things. Every day, I feel honored to play a role in helping students through their journey, where they meet important goals in their lives.”

Bhattacharya, who joined the faculty in 2008, was featured in the spring 2012 “Why I Teach” series of videos that celebrate the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi educational experience.

“I teach my students to make their work and their dissertations count because these will have long-term benefits,” she said. “Some of my students take classes twice to gain a deeper understanding of philosophies, while others from previous classes will volunteer to help tutor new students, due to their ignited passion in research.”